Located on the North Santiam River, Stayton is a regional agricultural and light manufacturing center.In 1872, he platted the town site, and that same year the community received a post office.[5] A ferry crossing of the Santiam River operated from 1876 until a bridge was constructed in 1888.[9] Stayton experiences a temperate climate that is usually described as oceanic with mild, damp winters and relatively dry, warm summers, like most of the Pacific Northwest.Because of its inland location, Stayton can experience heat waves, in July and August particularly, with air temperatures sometimes rising over 90 °F (32 °C).Spring can bring rather unpredictable weather, resulting from brief warm spells, to thunderstorms rolling off the Cascade Range.[14] The only state highway is Route 22, which is located on the north side of Stayton, separating it from Sublimity.[15] A copy of the Jordan Bridge that spanned Thomas Creek east of Scio, it was moved to the park in 1988.[16][17] Silver Falls State Park is northeast of Stayton; it is the largest state park in Oregon and a major tourist destination in the region, popular for its camping, and for its waterfalls.